“Heavy Oceans” by Tyler Jones is an interesting sci-fi Lovecraftian novella with a nice ocean-related cosmic horror twist. Wow, try saying that opening sentence three times in a row and not mess up, eh? I’m teasing, anywho, I was very excited to read this novella as the cover is great and the description immediately caught my attention.

Now, before I begin my review, I found a few trigger warnings while reading which were…

- Domestic abuse
- Child abuse
- Drugs

If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novella. Moving along, I enjoyed the creepy prologue to set the tone for what would end up being a solid horror story. I wasn’t sure what to expect after such a wild start and I enjoyed this rollercoaster ride into oceanic horror done right.

Don’t worry, I won’t ruin anything for you but I enjoyed Jones’s writing style regarding all the gore, violence, and atmospheric horror. I also loved the horror mystery aspect of this novella and considering this was the first time I’ve ever read his work, he’s a great author. The plot twists and turns in this novella were good and I never saw them coming.

This novella has good characters and character development but the only thing I didn’t like was it was a slow burn up until the second half. It wasn’t terrible but the slow burn was worth it and once the horror hit, my goodness, it was so damn good. I made many weird faces while reading since I could not believe the creativity Jones had when it came to all the creepy horror that transpired. The descriptions, terror, and madness were all very well written leading right to the ending.

Now, when it came to the ending, I was hoping for more or at least some kind of final explanation to wrap things up nicely. It does end in a very creepy way which I thought was clever but I wanted some kind of closure to a degree. Besides that, this was a fun read with several unique horror moments that I will never forget. Seriously, I will never look at fish the same ever again.

I give “Heavy Oceans” by Tyler Jones a 4/5 for being a horror novella that checks a lot of boxes in all the right ways. If you’re looking for a quick book that hits you with major sci-fi Lovecraftian vibes and some of the most horrifying oceanic horror I’ve ever read, give this a shot. Aside from a few parts dragging on while reading, this delivered nicely and I look forward to reading more of his work. I want to thank NetGalley, DarkLit Press, and Tyler Jones for an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this novella in exchange for an honest review.

I was chatting with a friend who was curious about my experiences reading indie horror - her thought being that small, independent presses put out inherently lesser quality books. I assured her, most emphatically that my experience has been the opposite. I’ve read SO MANY indie authors who are KILLING IT without the juggernaut machinery of a big publishing house, and in that category, I would put any of Tyler Jones’ books up against the best out there.

Tyler Jones is an incredible, absolutely MUST READ author in as much as SK is, or Ronald Malfi is, or Robert McCammon is. He has the gift.

Heavy Oceans is a slow-burning masterpiece of cosmic horror. It made me feel like I did reading the horror books I snuck off of my mom and dad’s shelves in the 70’s and 80’s before things got slick and polished and repetitive. It is truly terrifying when the familiar shifts to almost familiar, but not quite right, and shit gets weird and dangerous, but we don’t know how or why or what happens next. Jones creates this incredibly bewildering and oppressive atmosphere and then drowns the reader in unsettling and terrifying hit after hit. There is no rest for the wicked in this tale.

Jamie escapes to Hawaii to visit his older brother, Eric, only to encounter another set of problems — ones that drag you to a strange abyss, literally. The novel for the most part explores Jamie and Eric's relationship, and how their traumatizing childhood shapes them as adults. In Eric, this trauma manifests by sleepwalking. However, that eventually translates to aggression and recklessness, traits that the brothers are afraid are inherited from their father.

The eerie cosmic oceanic terror happens halfway through the book, and while I understand the significance of the brothers' relationship, I expected the horrors of the ocean to be a more conspicuous element. Whatever mystery plagues the ocean seems to only scratch the surface of the truly terrifying consequences of being plunged in the depths of the unknown. And I wish the author explored that more, or at least make the ocean a more active role in reflecting the characters' conflict. Instead, they almost feel like unrelated side quests where the ocean subplot is kind of shoehorned in the main narrative.

I did think the second half was well written, especially once we got to the creepy threads — it's just not enough to fully immerse myself into the plot, with its short length in particular. That last bit regarding the official reports of the ocean changes really hooked me in and was probably my favorite part of the book, and that's what I thought it would be like for the majority of the story. For it being called Heavy Oceans it's just not very heavy on the ocean, but that's just my personal preference too.

"Before we go any further, I need to make one thing clear," Ed says. "What we're doing here is fixing a problem. Sometimes, you gotta do something that don't feel right because everything else is wrong."

This book was f.....g good. I'm not sure how else to put it. It's fast paced and gritty, starting with [an emotional, gut wrenching overdose scene that reminded me of some of the nastiness of the movie "Trainspotting." From there, the story quickly moved to a messed up plan to dispose of the body, involving a fishing boat and a hacksaw. And then, insanely enough, a hole appears in the ocean. One that completely changes the game, including the laws of physics. (hide spoiler)]

What I really enjoyed about this story was the non-stop insanity that seemed almost tongue-in-cheek in places. The dead-man shuffle as the brothers try to move the body of their friend. The scene where the arm ominously flops out of the truck bed. The idea to make chum of AJ. And all of this before the real horror in the ocean actually begins.

I really enjoyed this story. It's relentlessly fast paced, gritty, bloody, with a touch of emotional family love. Kudos to author Tyler Jones! You made an instant fan and reader out of me!

Thank you Netgalley, Dark lite Press and Tyler Jones for the eARC of Heavy Ocean. This is the first book Ive read of Tyler's and it won't be the last. Heavy Ocean starts out with estranged brothers, Eric and Jamie who try and reconnect in a bar in Hawaii. Things go awry after a shocking act of violence which sends 4 men, including the brothers into a fishing boat and sail offshore to figure out what to do next. What's to follow, they encounter things that should not exist, Turning their world, their beliefs upside down.

Giving that Heavy Ocean is a fairly short read, it's packed with a rolling build up of dread. It doesn't stop either, The writing style was descriptive with a great use of vocabulary to create that existential dread. The change in the characters while the story unfolds is palpable and the pay off at the end will make you sit and try and digest what you have read.

4.5 stars for me rounded to 5 on Netgalley.

This is the second book I have read by Tyler Jones and it certainly won’t be the last. Heavy Ocean is a terrific read and one that does not go where you think it will! The book is a crime story, a story about family and the underlying emotions that are buried over time in family dynamics. And then….. it veers into a totally different direction. If you were to actually place this in a category for readers to find it, we’ll that would ruin the turn that occurs three quarters through the story. I won’t categorize it because it would pigeonhole the book and that would be a shame. Tyler is an extremely talented writer and though I’ve only read two of his books so far, they were both exciting,,gripping reads that will thrill and entertain many readers.

One man takes off to Hawaii to see his brother that he hasn’t seen in years. The brothers have always been very different from each other but they are brothers and will do for each other whatever is needed to protect each other . After a night of drinking something terrible happens and a man is dead. But the brothers know they have to help one another. They enlist the help of the boats owner, a man that knows what needs to be done and how they can bury the problem. They make a plan, take the boat out on the ocean, and then……… we’ll I’ll leave this here so you can find out what happens on your own. Think Stephen King meets Stephen Spielberg.

If you like mysteries that take you away from the norm then you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend that if you see this authors name on a book that you read it.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Jamie and his brother Eric are in Hawaii hoping for a reconciliation when they get into a drunken bar brawl, resulting in death. While trying to get rid of the body, the brothers are sucked upside down in a whirlpool where everything is upside down. The waves are the clouds, it rains never before seen fish and parasites. It's like a modern day Lovecraft tale.

I never thought the beautiful oceans of Hawaii could be terrifying until I read this book. It is full of cosmic, deep sea horror. The creatures are out of nightmares! I felt the characters' confusion as their realities are distorted. This book truly dives into dark terrories . After violent events, two brothers (who both have shared childhood trauma) go on a boat ride that changes everything. The plotline is strong and everything ties back to the mystery introduced in the prologue. I highly recommend Heavy Oceans!

TW: gore, monsters, abuse, drug use, death

I could vividly see every scene that happened in this book - it was as if I was watching a film. The characters felt real to me. I believe there’s a deeper meaning to it than the surface Sci-Fi angle but I’m not sure how to explain it because the descriptions themselves floored me and overshadowed everything else.

If you enjoy Sci Fi or ocean themed books at all, I highly highly highly recommend this.

“How many times did we see Dad beat up Mom?” Jamie shakes his head, blinks hard and wipes his eyes. Too many, he thinks. And what does that do to a kid? It was like a bony hand with strips of rotted flesh reaching into his brain, grabbing wires, important ones, ones that matter, and plugging them into all the wrong places. Everyone says what you’re not supposed to do, but no one ever tells you how not to do it. Especially when it’s the only thing you know. The only example you’ve ever seen.”

I liked the thought of this book but the execution of it didn't really work. I kept reading, hoping it would get better but it didn't. Some parts were interesting, like the descriptions of the new fish, but overall, it didn't hold my interest.

Pretty good! I loved the sea vibes at the end but the middle was slow. Still would recommend this horror to whoeve likes cosmic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Heavy Oceans is a haunting story filled with cosmic horror, and readers are going to love this!!

Heavy Oceans follows two brothers trying to reconnect after Jamie, our main character, starts facing some struggles in his new position as a father. A couple of bad decisions later and the two brothers find themselves in some deep......"water." Once these characters get on the boat, it's a terrifying thrill ride until the end.

I had been hearing great things about this book for a while, and as a fan of DarkLit Press I knew I had to try to get a copy. This is such a fun book and readers are going to enjoy this. It's twisted and I can guarantee that nobody will know what's going to happen by the end of this story. It's hauntingly beautiful and tackles big themes like abuse and the cycles that you can find yourself in.

This was so creative and written so well that I really did devour this! It has touches of Into the Drowning Deep, The Troop, and other fun horror stories that the book community loves.

Absolutely check this story out! Tyler Jones absolutely destroyed me with this book and I can't wait to read more by him!

PS - if you aren't already following Dark Lit Press! You absolutely should check out some of the great things that they are putting out!

My thanks to Dark Lit Press, Tyler Jones and Netgalley.
I finished this story a handful of days ago and I'm still uncertain of my rating. So, I'm going to give it 4 stars while I'm also leaning towards 3 and occasionally 2.
This story was a slow burn for me. Honestly though, I'm not certain it will be for others.
Stuff happens "murder" early on, then there's the excitement of covering up a murder or two! Still, I was mostly just ready for the whole thing to end. Why? I don't know. Seriously. I was ready for the end. Then what happens? Yep! The end.
Crikey! I think I got whiplash. Turns out that what I was expecting was right on point. Mostly I love when that happens, but maybe not this time. It was a cop out. Also, that ending was messed up!
From that ending, I felt that a follow-up book should be written. But, I probably wouldn't read it.
Still, I would recommend this story. It was a good tale, but something about the whole damn thing keeps bugging the shit outta me. Eh, what's a gal to do?

Wow that was a journey. Heavy Oceans is gripping and hard to put down. I was very interested in the story and where these characters would end up. The length is perfect. It's short, a quick read, and so interesting that you want to finish reading it in one sitting.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy to read and review! I am definitely interested in reading more from Tyler Jones!

I really wanted to love this because I love ocean horror but this just didn't work for me. The story starts in Hawaii and there is an act of violence, followed by a sea journey with unexplained events. People are upset about the past, but that story didn't really work for me either. I never felt that I was involved enough to be invested in the story.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Jamie has gone to visit his brother after years of being apart. They had a turbulent past with an absent father and Eric’s history of sleepwalking. After what should have been a fun night reconnecting, they instead must deal with the aftermath of a tragic event and unexpected violence. That aftermath puts them straight into a bizarre and unprecedented situation that they must try to survive as things keep getting worse and more unearthly.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
This book was such a surprise!
I really liked the beginning, all that was related to Sleep Eric. I found the way that it was told was very intriguing and eerie, making the change to the present in the next chapter a completely different thing: the tone changed, the rhythm changed… And it got me hooked immediately!
It was after the next change of tone and rhythm that I found myself not quite sure about whether I was liking what I was reading or not. I was intrigued, of course, and the descriptions were amazing (I am always envious of writers who know how to write a really good action scene), but I think it lacked the emotion I had felt until the moment.
I do understand people linking it to Philip Fracassi’s Sacculina, and of course, this is one for lovers of sea monsters and a cosmic kind of horror.
And for those with thalassophobia such as myself, do not worry, it’s not a nightmarish ride.

Jamie has just become a new father and wants to go and reacquaint himself with his older brother Eric in Hawaii. When Eric and Jamie were children Eric used to sleepwalk and Jamie would wake up in the middle of the night to go and find him and although his brothers sleepwalking state scared him that didn’t even come close to preparing Jamie for the brother he finds when he reaches Hawaii. We learned that Jamie and Eric were close when they were younger but around high school Eric changed and throughout the book we learn more about the brothers and they’re growing up but while visiting his brother he sees a side of Eric he knew existed but thought he would never be around to see it play out and because of Eric‘s violent mistake the captain of the boat he works on and the captains son Maddie with the brothers In tow set out to fix the problem. in doing so the problem gets a whole lot worse and soon Jamie realizes something is after Eric… And things are not getting better. This was an awesome horror story I saw this book as a recommendation on Facebook because I love sea monster stories I couldn’t wait to read this and I was not disappointed this was such a great book. I want to thank Dark Lit press and Net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This book is incredibly well written. The storytelling and descriptions are so vivid that although this is not my preferred horror sub genre I really enjoyed it, and wouldn’t hesitate to read the author’s other works.
The plot was unexpected. The backstories well thought through and relevant- not just for backstories sake. When the action comes it is brutal and intense.
I sometimes struggle when I don’t like the main characters but luckily I pushed past that as Eric and Jamie’s personalities are critical to the plot.
Fingers crossed this is the first in a series!

Big thanks to DarkLit Press, Netgalley, and Tyler Jones for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

You know how some books are hard to get into at first? This one was not like that. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't stop. I had to know what happened next!

The ocean terrifies me and this story was horrific! This was the first book I've read from Tyler Jones but it won't be my last.